Cormeal Endothelial Cell Loss in Phacoemulsifications of Sup. & Temporal Scleral Pocket Incisions

Lee, Tae Hum; Park, In Chul; Lee, Kyung Hum

Abstract

Recently, phacoemulsification is a widely used technique gor extraction of opaque lens. Phacoemulsification thorugh a small incision prvides early visual rehabilitation. However, the side effects of phacoemulsification such as endothelial cell loss have been reported continuously. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of incision site on corneal endotheliu. Central corneal endothlial cell loss(ECL) was compared following insertion of posterior chamber PMMA intraocular lens with 5.5mm superior scleral pocket incision in 30 eyes and 5.5mm temporal scleral poket incision in 31 eyes. Cell density of the corneal endothelium in all eyes was examed by auto-focus Non Contact Specular Microscopy preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively. The average cell loss was 7.41+/-6.9% and 6.61+/-7.1%, respectively. Phacoemulsification with temporal 5.5mm scleral pocket incisions produced slightly less endothelial cell loss(ECL) than superior incisions. But, there was no statistically significant difference between the eyes with temporal 5.5mm scleral pocket incisions and those with superior 5.5mm scleral pocket incisions. The endothelial cell loss(ECL) is not associated with the direction of corneal incision. If the appropriate direction of corneal incision is chosen by pre-poerative corneal astigmatism, it seems that we will find the better results.